Combined record-making and self-playing attachment for pianos.



' No. 850,668. PATENTBD APR. 16, 1907. G. MOHR.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING A TTAOHM APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20', 1906.

BNT FOR PIA'NOS.

1o SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Almrm 97 l.

PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. G. MOHR.

MBNT FOR PIANOS.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACH 10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20,1 906.

ESSES,

/ L fNV 'iNTOR T vw 710/.

C) Allarngy PATENTED APR. 16 e. MOHR.

SELF PLAYING ATTACH MENT FOR PIANOS.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING- AND APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR" fiali z'e 7720/27? Allan) T FOR PIANOS.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR.1 6,

G. MOHR. COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTAOHMEN APPLICATION FILED FEBHZO, 1906.

. i a n 4 MM No. 850,668. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. G. MOHR.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

.v,,, w 57 5. J5 T /60 J6 m m 6 7 7a I I d WITNESSES bylaw/(01g 7/4 1 9 $0376 ate/2 1 7/0767 A llormy' No. 850,668. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. G. MOHR.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20.1906.

1o sums-smut.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (i061 Zp'eb 177071, 7"

Allorney No. 850,668; PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

G. MOHR.

COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS;

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20,1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7,

Q. a. fig

Allarney No. 850,668. PATENITED APR. 16, 1907.

G. MOHR. COMBINED RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

II. [{I H IIHJPU V PI|IIIIIIIIIIIIII1II UHLFIMHHHF i,l-l-i-lsi.f IE fflflihl iiifi WITNESSES INVENTOR Q aafib'efi 7750737 l 7 m .Il/ornqr No 850,668. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

v G. MOHR. v .GOMBINBD RECORD MAKING AND SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

LI ATION F APP G ILED FEB 20, 1906 L0 SHEETS SHEBT 10 my. A5.

WITNESSES v R w m A wfi m7 may a Z 0 a% 3 fication.

UNIT D. STATES PATENT OFFICE. GOTTLIEi-B MOHR, OF CEDARVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

' COIMVIBINED RECORD-MAKING ANDSELF-PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent. application filed February 20, 1906,. Serial No] 302,066.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Ton/Ll whom it may concern- :Be itknown that LGOTTLI' B Morin, a 01th zen ofthe United States of America, residing at Cedarville, in the county of Gilmer and 5 State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Record-Making and Self-Playing Attachments for Pianos, of which the following is a speci- This invention relates to a music recording and reproducing mechanism for pianos and similar key-operated musical instruments, the mechanism being of that general type adapted for the production of perforated l5 music-sheets and the reproduction of the music'allselections or compositions therefrom." I l Generally stated, the objects of the inven tion are fir'st, to provide a combined recordv2o ing, or musicsheet making and reproducing or playing mechanism for operating the piano to'play the compositions represented by the produced music sheets .which embodies the desirable advantages of simplicity 2 5 of construction,inexpensiveness of produc- .tion, and efficiency of operation; second, to 'provide a mechanism of this character which maybe applied to any, ordinary type of piano. and thrown into and outof'operation at will, sothat by the simple adjustment of "controlling parts the mechanism may be set for operation or rendered inoperative in order that the piano may be played in the usual way; third, to provide a construction 3 5 whereby unskilled performers may, never theless, prepare an accurate record of any musical composition, and; finally, to produce a recordingmechanism by which any number of duplicates of a record may be prepared 0 and also to produce simple and effective vpneumatic means for controlling the action of the operating parts. i

I With heabove and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination,-and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had .to the accompanying drawin gs, in which.

Figure 1 1s. afront elevation of a piano shown equip ed with my invention. -,Fig. 2

- is a vertical ontto-rear section through the casin of the apparatus, showing one of the sets'o devices of the recording mechanism as actuated to form a perforation in the record sheet. Fig. 3 is a sin1ilar,yiew of the perterating device shownin Fig. 2 disposed in detail section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

. trave in normal or retracted position. Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 2, showing due of the sets of devices of the reproducing"? mechanism with the reproducing-needlein normal position. Fig. 5 is a similar View of a portion of the elements illustrated in Fig. 41, showing the needle projected and the plunger depressed to operate the piano-key. Fig. 6 is a Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section, with parts broken away, taken on a plane indicated, as. an example, by the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, showing'the means for throwing the apparatus into and out of action,- adjusting the partsto suit the positions and ranges of movement of the keys, and for locking said parts in adjusted position. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional plan views of the locking device with the parts thereof in looking and unlocking position, Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the rollers andcooperating parts of the recording and reproducing mechanisms as they appear with the front of the casing and tubes removed, the banks of operating devices of said mechanisms being genertubes being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section showing the means for ading the intermediate portion of the box ally indica'tedand two of the connecting justing the reproducing mechanism to play broken away and one of the end portions partly in elevation and with one of the valve devices appearing partly in section and partly in front elevation. Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation showing the grooved platen-roller of the reproducingmcc anism. and the means for adjusting the same. Fig. 16is a section on line 16 1 6 of Fig. 15. Figs. 1? and 18 are detail plan views of the recording and reproducing needles and their carrier-levers. Fi 19 is a'diagrammatic view showing the mo e of su porting, guiding, and tensioning the music-sheet which controls the ac tion of t e reproducing mechanism. Fig. 20

is a vertical transversesection through the' housing of one of the sets of feed-rollers,

showing the pressure-roller and means for adjusting the same. j R'eferr now mare particularly to the drawings, t e numeral 1 designates a piano of the upright type, 2 its bankof keys, and 3 1 pair of edal-levers k right, and in both directions to'operate the pedalerods, with which they are connected in any suitabl'emanner. I have not deemed it necessary to specifically show or describe these elements, as the construction may be that in common use and as such elements do "not constitute, except sofaras, the suctionbellows enter into the general combination as one means for producing a suction action, any part of the present invention. Y

The recording and re roduci mechanism is supported by and inclos e d within a suitable frame of casing 11, which is of such 7 form as to rest upon the piano 'casing and occupy the space above the key-levers normal y occupied by the lid 3 and left vacant when the latter. is thrown back. This casing 11 may accord iri style and finish with the piano-casing and maybemupported by its own weight or fastenedto the piarm;pasing in 7 parts.

any preferred manner.

Arranged within the casingll, and preferably at the opposite ends thereof, are banks 'of recording and reproducing devices, generallydenoted (see Fig. 10)'by the referencenumerals 12 and 13, each bank embodying in practice sets of devices equal in number to the piano-keys 2, one for each key. In thepresent instance I have only shown a sufficient number of these devices to illustrate .the rinciple of the invention, owing to the co sion and lack of clearness liable to arise from the illustration of a multiplicity of Suflice it to say that a recording and a reproducing device are provided for each key, and through the action of controllin means hereinafter specifically describe'd'each recording device is adapted to beoperated by its respective ke when the latter is manually depressed,-w e, on the contrary, the reproducing device is designed to effect a machanical depression or.manipulation of the Each note-recording device consists of a perforating pin or member 14, carried by a vertically swinging or' vibrating lever 15', pivoted at its'rear end, as at 16, upon a support 17 and movable at its forward or free and between guide-pins 18-. The pins 18 are carried by a support 19, on which the said free end of'the lever rests when in lowered position, in which position it is normally'heid V by a spring 20, arranged between the lever and its support. A pitman -or connecting site side27 of which is fixed to a stationary bar or bracket 27. The part 25 thus has pivotal motion, so that upward motion will be transmitted to the arm, rod, and lever when the bellows is collapsed, while upon the expansion of the bellows to its normally extended condition the arm 24 will swing downward and permit the lever 15 to be retracted by spring 20, the projected'and retracted positions of the parts being, respectively, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bellows is in communication through a flexible tube 28 with a duct or channel 29 in a suction-box which suction-box is provided with a longitue dinal passage 31, connecting with the tube 6,

'30, common to all the recording devices,

and is formed with a series. of such ducts 29,

with which the tubes of the recording devices communicate, each of which ducts is governed by valve mechanism, which I will now describe. A valve 32 normally closes communication between the duct 29 and passage 31 and consequently between 'said passage and the bellows, and is attached to an exteriorly-projecting sliding stem 33, extending loosely through the front arm of a lever 34 and provided above the lever withucontacthead 35. The lever is adapted to be tilted to pull valve 32 open by means of a spring 35 and is centrally fulcrumed, as at '36, upon a bracket 37, slidable vertically in guides 38,

- disposed opposite a bar 39, on which is a post 40, to which one end of the spring 35 is atta'ched, the other end of said'spring being arranged to exert downward pressure on the rear "arm of the lever. The duct 29 has an air-inlet 41, adapted to be closed by a reliefvalve 42, carried b the rear arm of a lever 43, intermediately the suction-box. "The front arm of sai lever 43 has an aperture through which the valve-stem 33 slides and is connected to said stem by a spring 44, whereby the valve 42 is held closed when valve 32 is open. Apin 45 is provided upon theflever 34 to engage the lever 43 and force the valve 42 open when the valve 32' is closed. The rear, arm of the lever 34 is pivotally connected by a bailshaped link 46 with a plunger or stem 47; sliding vertically in a'suitable guideway 48 and 'bearingptits lower end against the upper of the dert 'rg piano-key 2.

Thebail46 may be pivota lyconnected with the plunger in any preferred manner, as by arranging its bigl 1 t oi return portion to rest upon'a head .46 on the plunger and to be held ITO lcrumed, as at44, u on fromdisconnection, so as to have a limited I ance ofthe key being greater than the comloose up-an.d down play, by a stop or guide pin 46". l A spring 49 of insuff cient strength to depress the plunger against the resistance of the underlying key 2 is provided to force the plunger downward when the key is manually or automatically depressed, such resist bined pressures of the springs and 49, so that the plunger will be held in elevated or normal position directly by thekey, while Y form's two functions.

a downward to. follow the movement of the lever 34 free to be depressed by spring 35,

the plunger, through the connecting-bail 46,

' will hold the lever'34 in a normallyhorizontal position against the resistance of spring- 35, in which position of the lever the valve 32 will be] held closed. The plunger perthe key 2 is manually depressed to be forced same by the spring 49 and to thereby move over from the bail 46, leaving the rear arm of whereby the lever will be tilted to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus elevating and cansing the front arms of said lever to engage the head 35 and lift the valve '32, whereupon the spring 44" closes the valve 42., thereby connecting the bellows 26 with the passage 31, connected with the exhaust-tube 6, the air being thus exhausted from the bellows, which collapses and projects thelever 15 and perforating-needle 14 upward, as will be readily understood. The closing of the valve 42 in this operation prevents air from entering the at.

f uic-kly and efficiently collapsed by the withrawal of air from'the passage 31 by the ac tion of. theoperating-bellows manipulated by duct 29, s'othat the bellows 26 may be the pedal-levers 5." WVhen the. key 2' is re leased andreturns. to normal position, theplunger- 47 will be forced upward thereby and will accordingly-draw upward on bail 46 and tilt. the lever 34 back to horizontal position to closethe valve 32 and open the valve v42, by which the duct 29will be thrown-out of communication with the passage 31','and air mayenter the bellows Via the inlet 41, duct.

29, and tube 28vto permit the same to distend I and thelever'l5ito be retractedto normal po- 50 sition. The plunger 47 thus controls, as one of its functions, the cooperating perforatingneedle, throughthe bellows and valve mechanism. just described, to cause the perforating-needle to be projected when the key 2 is depressed and topermit. it to. return to normal position when said hey is'released. In its other function the plunger 47 is forcibly depressed through the action of the cooperating actuating means of the reproducing mechanism, so that said plunger will mechanically depress and operate the key 2, as hereinafter described;

Arranged above the perforating devices of the recording or record-making mechanism are. 'ro1ls'50,-51-, and52, j'ournaled at their" It is adapted when ends in suitableop'en bearings (not shown) on the upper portion of the casing 11 to permit of their convenient application and re-' moval. The web or paper or other suitable naterial54, from which the perforated sheets or records-are formed, is wound at one end' about theroll 50, thence extends forwardly beneath the roll 51, and is suitably connected at its free end to the roll 52 to wind thereon as itis fed forward by the action ofsaid roll 7 5 52, which is operated in a manner hereinafter described. The rolls 50 and 52 are flanged at their ends to prevent shifting of the web thereon, while'th'e roll 51' is provided with annular grooves or corrugationsh53,disposed and equal in number thereto. s each nee-' dle 14 is projected upwardly it passes through above the respective perforatin '-needles 14, I

the paper while the latter is being fed for-v ward and enters" the cooperating groove 53, the action of the paper in itsfeedin move-- 'ment'thus causing a perforation or slit to be cut therein, which perforation or slit will vary in length according'to the period the key 2 is held-depressed and commensurate with the length of the note represented thereby. p a Y Y In the production of a musicsheet or record th'e'performer plays the selection or composition in the usual way by: manipulating the keys of the piano, and the perforatingneedles, governed bythe action of said keys and the interposed operating devices, are projected as the respective keys are depressed and forced through the'sheet 54, thus forming therein perforations or slits representing the notes played, so that a complete record of the composition played willbe produced for subsequent use for amechanical reproduction of said composition by the reproducing or me chanical playing mechanism. Afterarecord has been made all that portion ofthe sheet 54'containin the perforations is separated from the b0 y of the roll of pa er and the said needle being .mountedupon the free end 'ofa vertically tilting or vibrating lever 56,- pivotally mounted, as at 57, u on the rear bar 58 of an open oblong shifting ame 59 and ludvable at its forward end between guidepins 60, carried by the forward bar 61. of said frame.',The lever 56 is pivotallyconnectedto the upper end of a pitman bar or rod 62,

provided at its lower end with a pin '63,piv-

otally engaging an aperture .64 in'a. valve-- controlling lever 65, intermediately v fulcrumed, as at 66-, upon the 'shiftingframe.

2O 1 connected with a contractile spring 72, fixed The frame carries a suction-box 67, rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, and said suction-box and frameare provided with guide-flanges 68, arranged to slide in a direction longitudinally of the casing 11 in guide-- passage 70, communicating at one end with adjacent arm of the lever 78 to hold the valve I the suction-tube 7, leading from the main exhaust-bellows operated by the pedal-levers 5, and in said suction-box are also formed transverse ducts 71, equal innumber to thenote-reproducing devices and one for each of said devices. The rear arm of the lever 65 is atone end to the frame 59 and at its other end to lever, while the forward arm of said lever 65 is formed with an aperture for the passage of a stem 73, extendinginto said duct and provided at its inner end with a 'valve74 to closecommunioation between the same'and the passage 70 and having at its outer end an abutting head 75, adapted to be engagedby said lever when the lever 56 "moves upwardly to open the valve 74, and

thus connect the passage 70 and duct 71. The duct 71 is provided at one end with an air-inlet 76,- controlled by a valve 77, mounted upon one (the rear) arm of arocking lever 78, intermediately pivoted at 79 upon the suction-box and provided in its front arm with a perforation for the passage of the stem 73, which is adapted to slide therein. A spring 80 surrounds the stem 73 and is fixed at one end thereto and at the other end to the 77 closed when the valve 74 is open, and upon the forward end of the lever 65 isprovided a contactin 81, adapted to engage the lever 78 and orce the valve 77 open when the valve 74 is closed. The other end of the duct 71 is connected by a flexible tube 82 with a bellows or pneumatic -hey-operating device 83, the said bellows having fixed and movable sides or members 84 and 85 hingedly connected at their rear ends in any suitable manner, the stationar member 84 being rigidly secured to a suitable bracket or support 86. When the needle registers with a perforation in the music-sheet and is projected u wardly therethrough through the action 0 the spring 72, the valve 74w1ll be opened to connect the duct 71 with the airexhaust passage or suction-passage 7 0 while the valve77'w1ll be closed to cut off communication between said ducjtand the atmosphere, and'a's aresu-lt their will be sucked or drawn from the bellows '8-3throu h the- 5 tube 82, whereby the movable mem or 85 will be drawn up against the fixed member 84 and the bellows collapsed, as will be readily understood. This action, as hereinafter described, will depress the plun er 47, actuated by said bellows, to operate the piano-key to sound the note represented by the perforation,through which the needle 55 projects. When the end of the perforation in the musicsheet is reached, the web or connecting portion between said perforation and the next adjacent perforation in line therewith will force the needle 55 downward against the action of the spring 72, and the needle will ride up on the under side of the music-sheet'until the next adjacent perforation in the line of travel of the music-sheet is reached, when the operation above described will be repeated. When the needle 55 is projected downward in the manner stated, it will be apparent that the lever will be moved to the position shown in-Fig. 4 from that shown in Fig. 2, whereby the valve 74 will be closed to dis connect the duct 71 from the passage 70, and. at the same time the pin 81 will engage and operate the lever78 to open the valve 77 and thereby again permit air to enter to follow the bellows 83 and permit the same'to ex-. pand; This is the action whenever the needles of the several reproducing devices move into and out of the lines of perforations in the 9 5 music-sheet, and it will thus be seen that when the needle of any reproducin device is out of register with a perforation t 1e operating mechanism thereof will be thrown out of action to permit the piano-key to return to its normal position.

The movable member of the bellows 83- may be forced downward by a suitable con.- tained spring or by the action of gravity and is provided with an air-inlet 87, controlled by interior and exterior flap-valves 88 and" 89, the valve 88 being normally closed and the valve 89 normally open. When the air is exhausted from the bellows, the valves 88 and 89 will be respectively opened and closed to prevent access of air to the bellows through the opening 87, while when the movable member 85 drops to distend the bellows the valve 89 will open and the valve 88 will be held open. by the pressure of the inrushing air until the bellows is filled, when it Will automatically close. This-valve mechanism is provided in addition to the valve 77 inorder to secure a re id restoration of thebellows to normal ,con' ition as soon as a piano-key is released by the plunger 47, but maybe dispensed with where its provision is notfound to be absolutely necessar I may use-the\ v same construction of va ve mechanism in connection with the bellows 26 of the recordingl mechanism, if desired.

- he movable member 85 of the bellows 83, connected with the reproducing device f or eachkey, is operatively' connected with'the plunger or stem 47, associated withsuch key,

:as shown, for example, in Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that the said member 85 is provided with an arm, 90, having a pivotal endevice. When the bellows is inflated or restored to normal condition, it will be apparent that the arm 90 will move from its projected position (shown in Fig. 5) to its normal position (shown in Fig. 4) and permit. the key to return to normal position and force the plunger 47 upward. it will of course be understood that the plungers 47, the valve devices for the set of bellows 26, controlled thereby and governing the passages in the -suction-boX 30, and the series of bellows 83, associated with thesuction-box 67, are arranged above their respective ke -levers, that the series of bellows 26 is disposed be low the respective levers carrying the perforatingneedles, and that connection is made between the respective suction-boxes 30 and 67 and the sets ofbellows 26 and 83 through the medium of the flexible tubes 28 and 82, which may be of any length and disposed within the casing 11 in any prefgrred manner.

The perforated music sheet or record 54, .produced by the recording or recordma'king apparatus is, as before stated, formed into an endless band or strip, which is transferred when it is desired to mechanically reproduce the composition represented thereby to the guiding and supporting rolls of the reproducing 1 iechanism. As shown in Figs. 4. and 19, these rolls comprise lower guiding-rolls 92 and 93,- upper guiding-rolls 94 and 95, a platen-roll 96, .and a tension-roll 97. The recordsheet 54 passes over the rolls 94 and 95 and travels in contact with andbeneath the rolls,92, 93:, and 96, and at the front a portion of the record-sheet is allowed to depend. at the front of the casing in the fornrof a loop or fold 98, which passes at its lower end-around the roll 97, which is free from support and is adapted by its weight to hold the. sheet taut during its feeding motion. This arrangement and mode of mounting the sheet obviates the necessity of employing a multiplicity of guiding-rolls for a sheet of some length and also thense of complicated tension mechanism. If desired, a guide rod or roll 99 (see Fig. 4) maybe provided for the upper, end of the looped portion 98 at the point where the record-sheet feeds through a suitable aperture 100 in the front of the casing 11. 1

The rolls 92, 93,- 94, and 95 are preferably mounted in open hearings to facilitate their application and removal, and the roll 96, like the platen-roll 51 of the recording mechanism, is provided with annular grooves .101, corresponding in number to the noteproducing devices employed and into which the reproducing-needles 56 of said devices extendwhen they project through the perforations in the music-sheet, as will be readily understood.

The portion 61 of the shifting frame 59 is provided with a guiding edge 102 for the lower edge ofthe'mus'ic-sheet to insure its proper feed and to maintain it in accurate operative relation to the platen-roll 96, and

.the latter is adjustably mounted, as shown in detail in Figs. 15 and 1 6, to permit'it to be raised for the convenient application and removal of a sheet and to hold the sheet applied thereto out of the path of movement of the needles 55 when the record-making mechanism of the apparatus is being independently used. To this end the frame 11 is provided with open vertical bearing-recesses 103 for the reception of vertically-adjustable bearing-blocks 104, in which the ends of the said roll is suitably supported a rock shaft or rod 105, connected by toggle-links 106 and 107 with the ends of the shaft of the roll 96 and provided at one end with an operating .knob or handle 108, this construction permitting of the vertical ad ustment of the roll 96 in an obvious manner.

shaft of the roll 96 are journaled, and above It will be apparent from the foregoing de' scription that through the medium of the recording mechanism the music or record sheet representing a selection or musical composition played by the performer'upon the piano in the usual way by the manual manipulation of the piano-keys may he made and that then by transferring the.

music-sheet to the rolls of the reproducing device the lattermay be made to operate the keys to mechanically produce such selection or composition in' true accordance with the' touch and players rendition or interpretation of the composition. It will also be apparent that while the reproducing apparatus is in operation to mechanically actuate the piano the recording apparatus may be operated to form a duplicate of the actuatingrecerd, and that by continuously operating the reproducing mechanism any number of duplicates of the record carried thereby may be made through the action of the recording mechanism." As shown in Fig. 10, the respective rolls'52 and 93 of the recording and reproducing mechanism are mounted upon a common shaft 109', which maybe provided at one end with a pulley 110,'(see 1,) whereby the two mechanisms may be simultancously operated by an auxiliary motor.

I have also provided means whereby said ]Tl0(',l 1 l1'l1Sl1lS may be manually operated, as will be hereinafter described.

5 ianos ma be out of true alineinent and ave different degrees of movement, means are rovided for pfoperlypositioningand regu ating the strokes of the respective valvecontrolling lever 34 to compensate for variations in the relative operative levels of the plungers and for locking the parts in adusted position, suchmeans also permitting any necessary upward ad'ustment oi plunger to accord'with the c -anged position of the valve-controlling lever cooperating therewith. It will be understood that the keys-of different makes. of instruments have different ranges of movement and-that the levels of the .keys of an instrument vary so through wear and other causes after the instrument has been some time inuse, thus rendering it necessary to vary the relative operative levels of theplungers and valvecontrolling levers 34 in applying the afpparatus to an old piano and in shifting it rom on'e piano to another. Where the link 46 has a loose ivotal connection with the plunger and t e'o must be varied, it 1s obvious that the change of adjustment of the plunger to-a higher operative level cannot be secured without adjustin the lever 34, as upward movement of the p unger would be restrained by the link 46, and consequently the plunger would not be set with proper relation to its key and ,to the cooperating valve mechanism. Hence where the adjustmentof the plunger to a higher operative level is necessary in the use of such a pivotal connection between the lungers and associated valve-controlling evers means must be provided to enable the relative operative levels of the levers to be varied, through which operation adjustabilityof the plungers is secured. As heretofore levers 34, are adjustably mounted in guideways 38, which are arranged opposite a bar 39,'s' aced from and disposed parallel. with said rackets. Dis osed between the bar 39 and brackets 37 of a lof the valve-controlling levers is a longitudinally-sliding locking-bar 111, provided opposite each, bracket with a cam gr wedge surface 112, adapted to engagea reversly-beveled wedge block or surface 113 on the bar 39. The locking-bar 111 is provided at intervals with guide-slots 114 to cooperate with stationary guide pins 115 extending therethrou'gh, one of said slots and 7 guide spins bein shown in Figs. 8 and {9, which illustrate t e bar 111 in unloc v and locking positions. The pins 115 also imit the inward movement of the locking-bar 1 1 1, which is provided at one end with an o erating knob or handle 116, extendi to t e ex- ,terloret one end of the casing! ,whereby rative level of the latter described, the brackets 37, which carry thesaid locking-bar may be adjusted in and out to clamp the brackets 37 in the guidcways 38. piano, the locking-bar 111 is drawn 'out- Init the plungers 47 and levers 34 .to accomlevels of the keys 2, after which the bar 111 is forced inward to look all of said brackets 37 in adjusted position. This operation, it will be apparent, effects the adjustment of the plungers 47 to suit any variation in the keys and positions the Ieversnifor opera- A shifting bar 117 is ar tion accordingly. ranged in rear of the bar 39 and is pivotally connected thereto by links 118, and to one end of the said bar 117 is connected an oper ating knob or lever 1.19, which extends to the -exteriorof the oasing1lata point in convenient juxtaposition to the knob 116. When the handle 119 is forced inward, the links 118 will lie in an inclined position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, thus- .ositioning the bar 117 below the rear en s of pulledoutward the links 118 will be straightened to a vertical -position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 7, thus elevating the bar ends of the levers 34 and raise all the levers to a corresponding level and act as a stop to maintain the parts of the valve mechanism -in' normal position, thus preventing actuation of such mechanism and eliminating the resistance of the springs 35 to the-upward movement of the keys, as when the levers 34 movement of the keys after depression will Also as a result of the valveevers 34 Jeing held in a-raised position by the bar 117 the touch of the action remains normal, because the springs 35 no lon er depress the plun ers upon the keys. Theieys are there fore eft to be depressed manually against their springs in the ordinary manner. It'will be understood, of course, that this adjustment is best obtained by first moving the lockin justing the bar 117 into rojected position so that the brackets 37 will be free to permit the levers 34 to be lifted to the desired extent. When the .locking-bar is released, the brackets 37 are free to descend by in their guideways or to be manually ad justed up or down therein by the operator, and after they have been properly adjusted all the brackets may be simultaneously locked in adjusted position by projecting said locking-ban. It will: be understood, of course, that where downward adjustment of ative contact with a key which is depressed .below the normal level such adjustment is secured automatically by the downward When the apparatus is applied to the wardly to release the brackets 37 and per modate themselves to the relative heights or the levers 34; but when the handle 119 is 117, which will thereupon engage the rear are so held from' movement, the upward be resisted only by the pluner-sprin s 29.

bar 111-to unlocking position, and then a the plunger is required to bring it into operravit but that a compensating adjustment of the lever 34 must bemade through theprovided means? When an upward movement of the plunger is necessary to set it to bear properly' upon the underlying key under theupward pressure of the key against the tension of the spring 49 in the movement of the key to 16 normal position, the primary freeing of the levers 34 and brackets 87 for adjustment is essential, as any upward movement of the plungersbeyond a determined degree is limited the link 46.

It will be understood from the foregoing description, considered in connection with the drawings,that when the rear ends ofthe levers 34 are elevated the bails 46 willbe elevated out'of contact with theshoulders 20 46 of the-plunger's,thus permitting the latter to move freely without interference therefrom under the action-of the bellows of the reproducing mechanism. Such elevation of the rear ends of the levers also-renders the recording mechanism inoperative without interfering with the action of the plungers by the reproducing mechanism, whereby the piano may be manually or mechanically played without operating .the valves of the recording mechanism, and thereby causmg waste of air and wear upon theparts thereof. When the brackets 37, carrying the series of levers 34, are adjusted in their guideways to raise or lower said levers, the plungers are permitted-in an obvious manner to adjust themselves automatically to the levels of the keys. After such adjustment of the plungers thelevers 34 maybe manually adjusted to set the bails 46 for proper operativeo engagement with the plungers and then looked in adjusted position, so that the apparatus" will operate efficiently irrespective of the varying-ranges of movement of the respective keys.

recording and reproducing devices comprises a drive-shaft 120, extending at rightangles to the rolls and provided at the iront of the casing 1 1 with an operating crank 50 or handle 121 and connected by a belt 122 -'with a counter-shaft 123, carrying a beveled pinion 124, meshing with a like pinion 125 on the shaft, 109, whereby when the crank 1 21 is turned to the right motion will be communicated to the shaft 109 to turn the rolls 52 and 93 forwardly. If desired, the shaft 120 may be operatively connected by a belt 126 and suitable gearing with the rear roll of the recording mechanisnr. An auxiliary 6c drive-shaft 120 also. extends to the front of the casing and is provided'with an operating crank or handle 127 and isconnected to the primary drive-shaft 120 by a belt 120.

' Suitable clutch connections may be employed 05 for rendering the driving mechanism operaright hand to prepare The driving mechanism for the rolls of the Live to drive the rolls of the recording and reproducing" mechanisms independently or simultaneously. The operating-crank 121 is primarilydesigned for operating the rolls of the recording mechanism when a finished performer is playing for the )roduction of a- -record, an assistantto' t epianist of course turning the crank while the pianist is playing- The said crank 121 is'preferablyv arranged at the right of the center of the casingin order to enable it to be manipulated by the assistant withoutinterfering with the motion o f'the hands and arms of the pianist. The crank 127, on the otherhand, is arranged at the left ofth'e center. of the instrument and is designed to enable-an unskilled performer to feed the sheet forwardby turning the crank 127 with the left hand, while.ma nipulating the keys by the fingers of the a record in a manner hereinafter described.

Thesliding frame 59, supporting the reproducing devices, is attached to a rack-bar 1'2S,,which meshes with an adjusting-pinion 129, carried by a revoluble operating rod or 'stem 130, whereby the said frame 59 may be shifted in one direction or the other within the range ofan octave to play the composition in any key. To effect a change in the playing of the composition, it will be understood 9 that the music-sheet carried by the rolls of the reproducing mechanism is .notrshifted with the frame 59, but the roll 96 is elevated through the medium of its adjusting means, before described, to permit the reproducingneedles 55 to be shifted with. said frame with out coming-in contact with and tearing or injuringlthe sheet. Assuming that. the needle 55 of any one of the reproducing devices is in position to register with the key-noteof the composition represented by its designat ing perforation in the music sheet54, it will be readily understood that the key may be changed by shifting the frame 59 to bring the needle of the next adjacent reproducing device of any of the reproducing devices to the right or left of the plane of the perforation within the range of adjustment into alinement with said perforation, so that the perforation instead of effecting the depression of the piano-key in which the compo sition represented by-the sheet is recorded will operate the corresponding key of the octave above or below or fany internicdmte key to play the composition in a higher or lower key. The extent to which the frame 59 is adjustedis designated upon the cxtc rior of the casing by indicating means comprising a cord 131, connected at one end to the rack-bar, passing intcrmediately over guide-pulley 13-2 and eonncctml at its opposite end to a grooved pulley 133. The pulley TKO 133 is mounted upon the inner end of a 1101- low shaft 134, which is connected to one end of a coiled retracting-spring 135, the oppoblock or frame-piece 136. The shaft'134 extends to the. exterior through the front wall of the casing and into an indicator-casing 137, having a transparent panel 138, which indicator-casing is fixed to the front wall of the casing 11. Attached to the outer end of the shaft 134 is a small hand or pointer L39,

adaptedto-traverseasealc'TeiU'on a dial-plate 141, formed by the rear wall of said casing 137. The hand 139 normally projects vertically upward from the shaft and registers with the zero-point of the scale 140 and is actuated in one direction or the other by the rack-andpinion mechanism and the spring to indicate the degree of movement of the frame 59 to the right or left, the scale designa- .tions being arranged to indicate the dis keys, by which means the reproducing mechtances between keys, so as to accurately ind cate the movement of the frame 59 to the right or left the distance of one or more anism may be accurately adjusted, through the medium'of the operating device 30, to play in any key within its range of adjustment.

- Extending through the shaft 134 isa center shaft 141 and an intermediate hollow shaft 142, the shaft 142 also projecting into the casing 137 and carrying a large indicating hand or pointer 143, adapted to traverse a scale 144 on the diallate 141, said scale extending in the form of a ring around the dial and being suitably divided off to indicate a full beat or measure and fractions thereof, whereby the extent to which the sheet on the rolls of the recordingmechani m should be fed forward to form a perfora ion of proper length for an eighth, quarter, half, or a full note may be determined. The zero-point of the scale 114 is the highest point thereof, and the pointer 143, as will be understood, normally projects vertically above the shaft 142, or any other suitable arrangement may be em loyed. The shaft 142 carries at its rear en a fixed friction-disk 145, adapted to be engaged by a friction-disk 146 on a knob-operated shaft 147. The shaft 147 is j ournaled' at its forwardend in the front wall of the casing 11 and at its rear end in a bearing148, between which and the disk 146 is a coiled spring 149, which normally rojects the shaft 147 outward or forward, witfi the disk 146 out of en agement-with the disk 145. The central s aft 141 is connected at its inner or rear end by a belt'150 and suitable pulleys with the counter-shaft 123, whereby said shaft 141 will be revolved when the driving mechanism which actuatesthc rolls is operated. At its forward end the shaft 141 is split or expanded to frictionally engage the intermediate shaft 142 to connect it W'th saidshaft 142 in such manner that when the shaft 142 is rotated it may turn loosely on the .musical composition. T

shaft 141 to adiust the hand orpointer 143 without affecting the roll 53 and so that when the shaft 141 is turned by the belt connection 150 both it and the shaft 142 will rotate in unison to turn the hand 143. I have not deemed it necessary to show this friction connection in detail, as such a connection 18 common in watch and clockinovcmcnts.

. tmli ihus be understood that during the playing of a composition by a-pianist'for the production of a record-sheet the hand or pointer 143 will rotate to indicate the time n which the composition is being played. This action of the pointer 143 maybe employed for purposes of reference by the performer. if desired, to determine whether or not the piece is being played in correct time; but the movement of the pointer ma be i nored by to play a piano may nevertheless produce an accurate record for re reduction of any is is carried out in the following manner: The pointer is adjusted to the zero position, and then the crformer While turning the crank 127 to eed the paper forward successively de resses the keys of 'thcpiano representing t e musical notes of the composition of which a record is to be made. If the first note happens to be a half-note, the erformer will hold the key dcressed until t e hand 143 makes a complete lialfmovement around the dial 144. If the next note is a quarternote, the key is held depressed until the hand reaches the threequarter position on the dial, and so on, it being understood that the band 143 may be ad- 'usted back to the zero position at any time y tlie'performer for convenience in enabling mined through the medium of the shaft 147 signed as a means by which an unskilled performer or one familiar with music but unable and the friction-gearing while the drive-gearing ofthe rolls is at rest without in any manner affecting said drive-gearing or the position of the music-sheet, As each note is held down a definite length of time, as accurately indicated by the pointer and scale, it

will be clearly understood that a slot or perforation of-the proper length will be formed in the feeding record-sheet. In such manner the soprano partof a composition may be first recorded and the parts readjusted back to the starting-point to successively record the bass,- tenor, &c., and any extras not in the composition it is desired to incorporate, whereby a mathematically-correct recordsheetlwill be produced.

"The conveniences and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those conversant with the musical art. It

vides device by which a skilled or unskilled of duplicates thereof and employ the same to.

mechanically operate the piano for a reproduction of the composition as recorded. The apparatus thus not only afi'or'ds pleasure and amusement and enables home records to be convenientl and inexpensively made, but the compositions when reproduced will disclose to the performer any errors that may have been made, thus rendering the apparatus of great value as an educator. By means of the recording apparatus an accurate record of any composition played by the performeror master in enact accordance with his touch orintrepretation of the music may be made,

1 preferably arranged, respectively, as shown,

riorly-projecting knobs or operating devices sheet in the manner shown in Fig. 19. ,justable pressure-rollers are respectively roin housings 151 and 152, su erposed upon the casing 1 1, with the upper ro ls 94 and 95 of the reproducing mechanism arranged above the housing 152 to effectively support the record- Advided in the two housings to respectively old the sheet in frictional contact with the rolls 52 and 93, said rolls being adjustable through the medium of means controlled by exte- 153 and 154 in Fig. 20 I have shown the pressure-roller 155 of the reproducing mechanism and the adjusting means therefor, and as both pressure-rollers are constructed and mounted in like manner a description of one i will suiiice for both. T he roller 155 is journaled in bearings 156, arranged to slide in verward and from the driving-roller 93. A bar 158 connects the bearings for movement in unison and is connected by links 159 with. an operating-rod 160, slidable in fixed guides 161, and to the outer end of which the knob 15 1 is .attached. Thus by sliding the rod in and out the roller 155 may be moved toward or away from the roller 93, whereby the triotional contact of the-sheet with said roller 93 may be increased ordiminished to cause the sheet to travel under the action of the driving-roller or to bri it to a state of rest without stopping said r0 ler.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination, a piano, a record-making mechanism including a series of recording devices and pneumatic operating mechanism tl1erefor, elements controlled by the manual manipulation of the keys for governing said pneumatic mechanism, and areproducing mechanism having pneumatic means for actuating said elements to mechanically manipulate the keys.

2. In combination, a piano, record-produc ing means controlled by the piano-action, I 'e. producing means adapted to be controlled by the produced record for mechanically operating the piano-action, and means for automatically and simultaneously operating the record-producing means Wlilll' the reproducing means for the production of a duplicate of the record. 1 and any desired number of duplicates may be i 3. In a combinedrecord making and selfplaying appliance for pianos, record-making mechanism controlled b the iano-keys, re- I producing mechanism a apte tobe operated by a record produced by the record-making mechanism to effect the mechanical operation of the keys, and means for throwing the rec ord-making mechanism into and out of operation independent of thereproducing mechanlsm.

4. In a combined record-making and selfplaying attachment for'pianos, record-making mechanism, self-playing mechanism, said mechanisms including controlling elements operative by the manual manipulation of the keys to control the record-making mechanism and by the action of the self-playing mechanism to mechanically actuate the keys,

and means for throwing said controlling "elements into and out of operative relation to the kevs. Y I

5. l n a combined record-making and selfplaying attachment for pianos, record-making mechanism,' self-playing mechanism,

pneumaticallyecontrolled operating -means for said-mechanisms, and members controlling and controlled by said pneumatic operating means, said members bein governed by the manual manipulation of t e keys to effect the actuation of the pneumaticop- 1 crating devices of the record-making mechtical 'guideways 157 to adjust said roller to- 5 anism and by the pneumatic devices of the self-playing mechanism to actuate the pianokeys.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination with the keys of a piano, a series of plungers resting upon the keys, recordin mechanism including a series of recording devices, pneumatic means for actuating said recording devices, said means including governing-valves and pivoted operating-levers therefor, said levers having a 'loosepivotal connection with the plungers,

spring means for depressing the plungers and operating the leyers to open the valves upon the downward movement of the keys, the latter serving to maintain the plun ersand levers: in normal position against t e pressure of the said spring means, and a reproducing mechanism including pneumaticallycontrolled devices connected with-the' plungers for forcibly depressing the same to mechanically manipulate the piano-keys.

7. In a combined record-making and selfplaying'attachment for pianos and incombir nation with the ke s of the piano, a series ofplungers. a series'o recording devices, pneumatic means'for actuatingsaid devices, valves controlling said pneumatic means, pivotally mounted levers controlling said valves, said levers being loosely connected with the plungers, springs for depressing the plungers and operating the levers to open the valves upon. the manual depression of the keys, saidplun-' gers being normally held by the keys from movement so as to restrain the levers from ,1nov e1'nent,a reproducing mechanism including pneumatically-controlled actuating devices'for mechanically depressing the plun gers, and means adapted to be thrown into operation to hold the levers from movement when the plungers are depressed. i

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of vertically-movable plun gers', springs for depressing the same, pivotally-supported valve-actuating levers, loose controlling connections between the levers and plungers, whereby the levers are normally held in valve-closing position, springs for moving said-levers to valve-opening position. when the plungers aredepressed',v a series of recording devices, pneumatic means for operating the same including valves controlled by said levers, and meansior vertically adjusting the valve-levers. 7

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of vertically-movable plungers, springs for depressing the same, pivotally-supported valve-actuating levers, loose controllingconnections between the levers and plungers, ,whereby the levers are'normall-y .held in valvecl0sing position, springs for moving said levers to valve-opening posit1on when the plu'ng'ers are depressed, a series of 'recordmg devices, pneumatic actuating means therefor controlled by the valves,

and means for vertically adjusting the levers.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a set of sheeterforating devices, a set of reproducing evices controlled in action by perforations in a music-sheet, pneumatic o eratingmeans .for the sheetperforating evices, a set of elements rnovsaid devices for actuating the plungers to mechanically manipulate the keys, sheet supporting and feeding devices associated with the recording'and reproducing mechanisms, and means for operating said devices in unison.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination with the keys of a piano, a series of plungers associated with the keys, a pneumatic record-making mechanism having controllingwalves, levers controlling said valves, adjustablc supports for the levers, means for simultaneously locking said supports in a'djusted position, loose pivotal connections between the pl u ngers and levers, and springs for operating said plunger-s and levers when the keys are manually depressed. i n I 13. In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination with the keys oi a piano, plungers controlled by said keys, a pneumatic record-making mechanism having controlling-valves, adjustable levers govt-rm ing said valves, and connected with and controlled by the plungers, means for fixing the set of levers in adjusted position, springs for moving the plungers and levers when the keys are manually depressed, and means for holding the levers from movement against the action of their springs. 7

In testimony whereof I alliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GOTTLIEB l\'l.()lll Witnesses:

JA's. A, BUTUTEN, CAL. NORMAN. 

